25 h. ago Leading conservationists just decided that genetically engineering wild animals is OK – sometimes. They’re right | Helen Pilcher

Humans have been selectively breeding animals for millennia. If we can help species survive by tweaking their DNA in a lab, I say bring it onDo you think we should genetically modify wildlife? What if we could make seabirds resistant to the flu that has been exterminating them en masse, just by tweaking their DNA a smidgen? Or make fish that can shrug off pollution, or coral that can survive warming waters? Engineer in the sorts of change that could occur naturally, given enough time, if only the wildlife would stop dying already.Thanks to newly emerging methods, such as Crispr, these feats are within reach. Recently, conservationists met at the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) 2025 World Conservation Congress where they debated GM wildlife and voted on a proposed moratorium that would stymie their release into the wild. Ahead of the meeting, a group of more than 90 NGOs issued a press release urging the IUCN to “say no to engineered wild species.” But humans ...

Politics

4 d. ago 'Unsung hero' car accessory works like a 'magic trick' for common problem

With autumn here, many motorists will be battling condensation in their cars - and we've spotted a way to combat it

Politics

8 d. ago Rain saves England at Women’s World Cup and ruins Pakistan hopes of historic win

England 133-9, Pakistan 34-0; match abandonedNat Sciver-Brunt admits England ‘weren’t good enough’Pakistan came agonisingly close to a first one-day international win against England in Colombo on Wednesday, reaching 34 without loss in pursuit of a DLS-adjusted target of 113 before torrential downpours curtailed their hopes of making history.England’s batting has lurched from one disaster to another during this World Cup – they had to be bailed out by Heather Knight against Bangladesh and by Nat Sciver-Brunt against Sri Lanka – and it looked like their frailties would return as they collapsed to 79 for seven in the opening 25 overs. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Country diary: Panic, stress, glory – my day scaling the Inaccessible Pinnacle | Merryn Glover

Black Cuillin, Skye: The rough rock tears the skin and is slippery when wet. But the only way is upTowers of shattered rock rise around us, wreathed in mist. We’ve been trudging for hours to gain this ridge, only to be buffeted by cold drafts and dampened by the swirling smirr of rain. This is the Black Cuillin of Skye, a ring of mountains forming the crater of an ancient volcano. It’s also the route of the legendary Skye Ridge Traverse, a 12km walk that takes in 11 Munros, the hills in Scotland above 3,000 feet, as originally measured by Sir Hugh Munro in 1891.The hardest here is the Inaccessible Pinnacle. A sharp fin of rock rising 50 metres above Sgùrr Dearg, it looked impossible to Munro, who contented himself with the rounded hump below. No such luck for today’s “Munro baggers” who must climb the In Pinn to claim completion. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Arsenal news: Viktor Gyokeres told one thing 'inevitable' as message sent to Mikel Arteta

A legendary goalscorer has weighed in on Viktor Gyokeres and his goal drought after Arsenal reached the top of the Premier League table heading into the international break

Politics

3 w. ago Yvette Cooper suggests international community on brink of Gaza peace deal

Exclusive: Foreign secretary says world has ‘reached moment’ it wants to end war after Donald Trump signals plan within reachThe international community is on the brink of securing a peace deal for Gaza that could finally bring an end to two years of conflict and a humanitarian crisis that has claimed thousands of lives, Yvette Cooper has suggested.The new foreign secretary, who has just returned from a UN summit, said that they had “reached a moment where the world wants to end this war” after US president Donald Trump indicated a peace deal was within reach. Continue reading...

Economics

4 w. ago Unsung Wales international reaches milestone as Dragons look to rise from rock bottom

The Men of Gwent have recruited heavily after finishing bottom of the United Rugby Championship last season

Politics